Engaging, Simple, & Affordable


Work with a Specialist High Skills Major partner you can trust.
Student certifications delivered.
School Boards who love working with Beanstalk.
Community partners who help bring programs to life.
Engaging for students. Easy for teachers.
(and even available in French!)

Let's make it Simple

How can we help you create awesome experiences for your SHSM students?
What are you looking for? 
Here's some quick info...
  • CERTIFICATIONS
  • ICE TRAINING
  • PROMOTION
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SHSM CERTIFICATION WORKSHOPS
Live? Virtual? We've got options! (Even in French!)
"We have used Beanstalk for multiple workshops with our students. They are always organized, professional and great with our students. I highly recommend them for any SHSM activity." 
- Matthew PJ Stewart, teacher
LIVE CERTIFICATION WORKSHOPS
Delivered live at your school:
  • Half-day, flexible timing to fit your schedule
  • Up to 2 certifications in a day
  • Book by phone or email.
Affordable cost:
  • $40/student for Half-day (1 certification)
  • $30/student per workshop for Full-day (2 certifications)
  • Far away? Lots of students? We'll send you a full quote!
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ONLINE CERTIFICATION WORKSHOPS
Delivered through Beanstalk Academy:
  • ~30-60 minutes in length, self-paced
  • Automatic certificate generation
  • Super simple: You send the link, students click, & start
Affordable cost:
  • Generally: $30 per student.
  • Lots of students? Contact us for discounts!

Certifications for Every SHSM Sector

INNOVATION, CREATIVITY & ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING
Easy for you! Inspiring community partners! Masterfully facilitated.
"Beanstalk offered my SHSM students I.C.E. training. Students were engaged and having fun. If you need certifications for your SHSM program, look no further. Highly recommended."
- Jean Theriault, teacher
LIVE ICE TRAINING WORKSHOPS
The basics:
  • We find you an inspiring partner
  • We facilitate the process (English or French!)
  • Book easily by email or phone

Logistics:
  • Full-day (5-6 hours suggested)
  • We coordinate a venue with you
  • We bring the supplies

​Affordable cost:
  • Generally: $50 per student
  • Far away? Lots of students? We'll send you a full quote!
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ONLINE ICE TRAINING WORKSHOPS
The basics:
  • Choose from our many sector partner options
  • ​Training for almost every sector
  • Delivered through Beanstalk Academy

Logistics:
  • 1.5 -2 hours in length, self-paced
  • Automatic certificate generation
  • Super simple: You send the link, students click, & start

​Affordable cost:
  • Generally: $50 per student
  • Lots of students? Contact us for a full quote.
SAMPLE I.C.E. TRAINING DAY SCHEDULE
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  • 9:00 Arrival, Welcome, & Introduction to Creativity (Learning the simple secret to great ideas)
  • 10:00 Empathy & Need Finding (Meeting the sector partner, & understanding the challenge)
  • 10:30 Ideation (Throwing around ideas - putting the guidelines into practice)
  • 11:30 Lunch (with bonus #InnovationAppreciation Challenge)​
  • 12:30 Selection & Refinement (Getting clear, seeking feedback, and narrowing in the focus)
  • 1:30 Prototype & Pitch (Learning elevator pitches, idea carousel, and feedback from the sector partner.)
  • 2:30 Wrap-up (Evaluation, closing thoughts, and highlights of the day)
  • 3:00 Departure
SHSM PROMOTIONAL EVENTS & TOOLS
Live events? Digital content? We've got options for every budget.
LIVE PROMOTIONAL EVENTS
  • A presentation that FINALLY explains SHSM - to students & teachers in a way that makes people want to join
  • ​In-person & virtual (live and recorded speaker options)​
  • Tech Requirements? We can take care of that​
PROMOTIONAL DIGITAL CONTENT
  • ​Easy access to pre-made explainer videos
  • Customized videos for your board
  • "Social-proof" student testimonial videos
  • SHSM Guide websites for students, parents & teachers
SAMPLE  SHSM  PROMO  ASSEMBLY  SCHEDULE
Length: 1 period or 1 hour
  • Welcome & introduction to Careers.
  • Emphasize and outline the BENEFITS of joining SHSM.
  • Video 'explainers' that simplify the requirements (Beanstalk's videos). 
  • An inspiring look forward to career exploration.
  • Encourage students to get involved (even if it's not SHSM).
  • Introduce SHSM Teachers and give them a chance to share. 
  • Wrap-up ( Prompt students to sign up using the physical or digital 'sign up' form).​

A Forum for SHSM Teachers

Save Your Time

SHSM 101
Cheat Sheets & Scholarship Summaries.
Promotional tools for every sector.
Join the province-wide conversation.

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SHSM Certification Workshops

What sorts of workshops are good for SHSM students?

intro to ANTI-OPPRESSION & ALLYSHIP

Communication Skills
Empathy is the root of effective allyship. In an interactive, fun, and safe way, this workshop will explore the complexity of identity, show how we can begin to overcome prejudice with deep listening, and encourage everyone to identify and share their unique gifts to create a more equitable world.
Effective communication is all about clarity and practice. Learn how active listening and understanding audiences will set you apart. We also share useful practices for writing, presentations, casual conversation, and "when things go wrong".

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

CUSTOMER SERVICE
Conflict doesn’t HAVE to be terrible. In this course, we explore conflict as something to learn from rather than something we “win” or “lose”. When we focus on relationships, kindness and strength, we can resolve disagreements in a healthy way!
Great customer service is an essential skill! Using activities, role-playing and stories, you’ll learn the foundations of helping customers in a friendly, positive way. Plus, we share the three things you must be in order to provide great service!

EFFECTIVE NETWORKING

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
A fun and experiential introduction to the practice of networking.  We share some key do’s and don’ts and get lots of practice in making great connections with others.
Through engaging scenarios of challenging dilemmas, we learn about the foundations of ethical behaviour. Together, let's explore tough decision making, the perspectives of others, and your own moral compass.

EVENT COORDINATION

GROUP DYNAMICS
Anyone can learn to be a great event planner, and this fun workshop will help students connect their natural planning abilities with good professional practice, complete with tips and tricks of the trade.
Interactive activities will experientially reinforce group development theories give students tools to help a team achieve its maximum potential.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

Making professional connections
We are all capable of being leaders! We just need to develop the right skills. Broaden your perspective and explore your own definition of leadership. We’ll look at personal role models as we work through activities that put words into action.
Students should feel confident in their abilities to reach out to and learn from people doing the things they want to do. In this workshop, students will learn how to initiate conversations with experts in various industries and communities.

negotiation training

Personality Inventory
Identify your negotiation style, practice effective negotiation  techniques, and declare commitment to ongoing learning.​ You’ll become a better communicator and negotiator!
Why is it that some people can't seem to get along? Learn to recognize working styles and how they differ between you and your peers with some help from our personality profile. You’ll become a better communicator and collaborator!

portfolio development

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Whether you're looking to work with cars, art, gardens, or games, a strong portfolio will set you apart! Mine past activities, and collect artifacts that show your skills as you work towards a career that excites you.
Projects are fun but can also be overwhelming! We’ll teach you a hands-on approach that will get any project moving. Learn about organization, modular thinking, and critical path tasks, plus tools to boost productivity and stop procrastination.

PROPOSAL/GRANT WRITING

PUBLIC SPEAKING
Many organizations live or die based on their ability to find and apply to grant opportunities or propose new ventures, but grants and proposals don’t have to be as scary as they sound!  Students will learn the basics and even create a simple proposal.
Although the #1 fear in the world is public speaking, everyone can become better with practice. Not only that, but with the right skills and mindset, it can even be fun!  Students will leave laughing and more confident!

RISK MANAGEMENT

STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
Better safe than sorry"? How about "Fortune favours the bold"?  Rather than learning such a vital skill through cultural clichés, we guide students through fun activities to better understand what it means to assess and take risks intelligently. Sometimes choosing not to take risks can be the biggest risk of all.
While stress is unavoidable, the skills to deal with it are learnable by everyone. You'll learn practical ways to better manage the hard stuff that life throws at you and the stress that comes with it, building your own toolkit of resilience!

sustainable resource management
The world of forest management is a fascinating career field for students to consider. Not only will they walk away with a deeper appreciation for the way our natural resources are managed but also gain valuable skills that will help in life.
(In partnership with PLT Canada)

Frequently asked questions

What is specialist high skills major (shsm)?
This program gives students the opportunity to test drive a career in high school! Students take relevant courses, participate in awesome field trips and get industry standard certifications. Educators and parents love the program because it gives students skills, scholarship opportunities, real-world experience, but students love it because it's fun! SHSM is free and open for all students in Grade 11 & 12 in all pathways (apprenticeship, college, community, university, & workplace). ​
WHAT IS A SHSM SECTOR?
"Sectors" are like "career fields", or perhaps a bit like "industries". Students choose a specific economic area to explore based on their career interests. There are 19 sectors available for SHSM programs, including things like Arts & Culture, Business, Construction, Health & Wellness, and more!
how many shsm sectors are there?
There are a 19 approved sectors for SHSM programs. (Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Aviation & Aerospace, Business, Construction, Energy, Environment, Food Processing, Forestry, Health and Wellness, Horticulture and Landscaping, Hospitality and Tourism, Information and Communications Technology, Justice Community Safety and Emergency Services, Manufacturing, Mining, Non-profit, Sports, Transportation).

​One note - SOME sectors are implemented at schools that choose to have an even MORE specific areas of focus. (For example, some Hospitality & Tourism programs may focus on Culinary, or Hairstyling & Esthetics.) Students should talk to Guidance about the programs available at their school.
What is required to complete SHSM?
There are five required components to completing SHSM. 
1) Courses & Co-op
2) Certifications - 6 or 7 workshops that will teach you skills and help you get a job
3)Experiential learning - Special programming & field trips
4) Reach-ahead experiences - Your teachers will organize awesome ways for you to explore your future
5) Sector-Partnered Experiences - Real world problem solving with an industry partner in your field of interest

If you are a teacher and want a cool cheat-sheet with all the specifics for your sector, we will have them available on Beanstalk Educators. Beanstalk Educators is coming soon! If you want to make sure you are notified when we launch, email us.

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Where do I find SHSM Certification Providers?
There are a ton of people and organizations providing SHSM Certification Workshops. Just make sure to ask about their experience with students, and the format of their training. There are a lot of professionals who give useful training, but a much smaller number who give training that's useful AND enjoyable. (Though we're biased, because that's our specialty.)

Soft-skills? Beanstalk does those ones.  Also check out service organizations, camps, ropes courses, etc.
Technical skills? Check out local trade unions, training organizations, and skilled individuals.

Most people start with a good ol' fashioned google search, and then find stuff in your area.
WHAT IS I.C.E. Training?
I.C.E. stands for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. Don't let the name scare you off, it just means real world problem solving! Students get an awesome day to connect with real people who work in their field and learn insider tips about what it takes to get the job done. I.C.E. Training counts as a Sector Partnered Experience and students will receive a certificate for participation. 

Beanstalk has some great options for I.C.E. Training you can check out!​
what is a sector partnered experience?
Sector-Partnered Experiences (SPE's) are experiences where students connect with a real person working in their field of interest. It gives students the opportunity to ask relevant questions, explore job-related challenges, develop skills, and knowledge. The following options count as sector partnered experiences: I.C.E. (Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship), Coding, or Mathematical literacy.

SPE's are usually set up by the SHSM Teacher at a school, but it can be facilitated by an outside group. Beanstalk facilitates it pretty well, for instance. 
what shsm programs are offered at my school?
The easiest way to find out is to ask Guidance at your school. Most schools will list their programs on the school website. Ontario has a massive list, but probably better to start with your specific school.
what is shsm 101
SHSM 101 is a FREE, online, 20-minute video course created for teachers new to the Specialist High Skills Major program. Think of it like a crash course in all things SHSM - useful for new and seasoned SHSM folks. SHSM 101 has an overview of the jargon, and a ton of helpful tips on how to run a valuable and sustainable SHSM program. 
​
​It is going to be made available through Beanstalk Educators.

Beanstalk Educators is coming soon! If you want to make sure you are notified when we launch, email us!
what is beanstalk educators
Beanstalk Educators is an an online community where teachers who want to create awesome stuff for students can connect! It's totally free to join, and you're invited! Continue reading to learn more...

We know that there are a lot of people out there creating awesome experiences for students. We also know that the work of a passionate educator can be draining and that teachers are burning out at higher and higher rates. 

Beanstalk Educators is a space that brings together those who are committed to improving the students' experience of school. It's a place to connect, learn, share, and be inspired with like-minded people who have a wealth of insight and ideas. 

How to join? Beanstalk Educators is coming soon! If you want to make sure you are notified when we launch, email us!

who is beanstalk creative?
Beanstalk Creative (formerly known as The Beanstalk Project) started its journey more than a decade ago, when Joel and his small team started facilitating soft skills workshops for students. 

Whether presenting to the whole school assembly, or leading multi-day "unconference" events, the goal has always been the same: to deliver experiences that were both meaningful AND fun. "Feaningful", if you will. 

These days we're still focused on creating awesome student experiences. Sometimes it looks like career-skills training  for students. Other times we're helping schools and educators enhance their programs with custom video productions. We also spend a lot of time with other educators who are changing the way schools engage students. 

We consider ourselves partners in better education. If you're interested in making things awesome for students, we'd like to partner with you. 
is the beanstalk creative beanstalk project?
  Yes! 

Here's our cast of characters - Our Team
Still have questions?
Great! We love curious folks like you.
If you're creating something awesome for students, we can help.
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